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Why Choose An App Development Company In Chicago?

When looking for an app developer, one question comes to mind: why Chicago?

The Windy City is one of the biggest business hubs in the world, with many global tech companies headquartered in Chicago, meaning there has been a large surge in technological innovation within developers, who develop apps and software for different operating systems like Android and iOS.

According to KPMG’s annual Global Technology Innovation report, Chicago has jumped from 16th place to 6th, sitting alongside tech-hub cities such as Shanghai and London. Chicago is known for breeding fast-growing unicorn startups, in other words, a privately held startup company valued at over $1 billion. The term was coined in 2013 by venture capitalist Aileen Lee, choosing the mythical animal to represent successful ventures.

Which has become possible due to the influx of successful entrepreneurs starting new ventures, including innovative app development agencies- making Chicago’s app development scene trend upwards.

There are quite a few well known top apps that were developed in Chicago, such as Expedia and JetBlue Airways, which were developed by Red Foundry, whereas Hashrocket app development firm developed Vegas.com the ultimate Las Vegas tourism experience app. However, KeyLimeTie has created tablet apps for global alcoholic beverage companies Jameson and Malibu.

Although Chicago is a tech-hub, brimming with successful app developers across all industries. You should take into consideration your app and the industry category it falls in, and taking a look at their portfolios so you can get an idea of how your app may look, from certain app development companies in Chicago.

How App Development Companies In Chicago Can Monetize Your App?

Once you have an app it’s time to think about monetizing it, to generate an income. App monetization is a means of making money from a mobile app without charging for it.

Users often stall at paying for apps because the vast majority of them are offered free of charge. One of the most common ways to monetize an app is to collect user data and sell it to third parties, usually advertisers- which almost all app development companies in Chicago will state.

There are a few ways to go about it, such as a download fee, in-app purchases or advert/banner marketing. These are all quite self-explanatory, however, if you are not familiar with these terms, let us explain to you how it works.

Download Fee

It’ll take time for your app to be recognized and widely used by your target audience. Once that happens, you’ll have the authority to charge a small fee for your app.

Such as pay per download- set a realistic fee for the download, to maximize your possibilities.

Banner/Ad Marketing

If your app will be free, then your developer should have an understanding of mobile advertising networks.

Placed advertisements or banners are more popular than ever! You will be familiar with this, as it’s so common.

It’s a great and cost-effective way of monetization, which also helps with analyzing your market audience.

In-app Purchases

In-app purchases work when an app is smartly designed in a way that will drive purchase conversions.

Find out if your app development company in Chicago has experience working with apps that follow this model. In some cases, development firms may reduce the cost of your app overall, if in-app purchases are applied to it- with developers taking a percentage in sales accumulated, a bit like shares within a company.

Usually, in-app purchases are linked to the development agency or their other clients, linking them as one collective.

App development agencies in Chicago are rated as some of the best in the tech-world

The Most Popular Apps In The Current Market, According To App Development Companies in Chicago

App development companies in Chicago have stated, that, apart from games, Uber and Airbnb, the majority of popular apps are social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook- along with messaging apps such as WhatsApp and WeChat.

According to expandedramblings.com, there are 91 million users of the Uber App, using statistics from April 2019. This means by the end of this year, it could be well over 100 million.

Airbnb has revolutionized the way we search for accommodation and travel the world with folks opening up their homes to give travelers a taste of authentic living.

With that being said, it’s easy to see why they are one of the most popular apps in the market. With over 50 million downloads, it has been ranked No.1 travel app by annieapp.com. Another interesting stat is WhatsApp, WeChat is dominant within the Asian market, WhatsApp wins hands-down with an impressive 1 billion+ downloads.

Our questions and list of top app development companies in Chicago are just the tip of the iceberg within reach.

However, be confident in your decision within the mobile app development company you choose to develop your idea into a marketing money-making tool.

When searching for app development companies in Chicago, keep in mind your project, the industry it is relevant to, along with your budget and goal, to ensure the perfect partnership and vision.

What To Look For In An App Development Company In Chicago?

There are several aspects to consider when hiring top app development companies in Chicago. The trick is to identify your business needs and search for a developer based on those needs. Matching your strengths and weaknesses with a top app development company in Chicago for its skillset and expertise will bring you more success in the long run.

Brand fit: What type of app development company in Chicago would best fit the needs of your business and your personal taste? An app developer who gets along with you and understands your vision will bring the best results possible.

Location: The location of your brand’s app developer should depend on your expectations. Do you want to sit down with your developer and work closely with them? This is one of the important things to consider when considering app development companies in Chicago.

App Developers In Chicago: 3 Signs They Are A Good Company To Partner With

According to ‘App is Key‘ some of the signs you should look for in hiring a mobile app development agency are:

Good listeners: Companies like to talk, however, developers mark their word on their promises, after all, it can make them, or break them.

Regular progress updates: All good mobile app development companies will provide an initial timeline, however, there can be changes in the delivery date, due to development findings and errors, but they will be honest and give a realistic date.

No Gray areas: This is the most critical aspect of the whole deal. A professional mobile app development agency in Chicago will never leave gray areas in their contracts with you.

7 Questions To Ask Chicago App Developers Before You Hire Them

1. How Long Does An App Take To Create- Form Idea To Completion?

There isn’t an easy answer to this, as it depends on the complexity of the project, the outcome and the purpose of the app. However, if the app development companies in Chicago have all their information and components together, along with a framework it can be four to six months.

2. What To Expect From App Development Companies In Chicago In Terms Of Design And User Experience?

The features and functionality within your app are going to drive the app’s operations. Most importantly, it should also be pleasing to the eye, and easy to use from a navigation perspective, as well as offer a unique experience.

The app you build must stand apart from the rest because there is heavy competition. Mobile app design isn’t as simple as choosing pretty colors and images. The right design will make all the difference. Take a close look at the app developer’s portfolio to see if creativity has been built into the app, and if the user interface and user experience is something you enjoy.

3. How Much Does An App Cost To Develop?

This also depends on the scale and function of your app, according to almost all app development companies in Chicago, if you require a smaller app, with basic features then app development companies in Chicago could ask up to $50,000. However, a much grander app, within technological features can go up to $500,000- starting at $100,000.

4. Ask To See Previous Apps, From A Similar Industry To Yours.

It may seem like an obvious point to make, but it’s a crucial factor.The prospective agency should be more than obliged to show you apps they’ve already built since this is one of the best ways you can tell if you’ll get a good return on your investment.

Another wise move to make, to ensure similar app experience, is to ask the app development company in Chicago to tell you how highly the apps they’ve built have ranked in the App Store, or if they’ve been featured.

If you do find they have built more than one app similar to yours, in terms of design, purpose and industry relevance, ask if you can speak to previous clients. Talking with past clients gives you insight into how the agency handled the relationship throughout the process.

5. What Level Of Involvement Will You Expect From Me?

It goes without saying, no matter how good the app development companies in Chicago are, essentially, they can’t develop the app without input from you since it’s your vision, after all. This means no wireframes, prototypes or finished apps without your input.

There will be several versions created before the finished product, so your involvement is a necessity during the project management. Think about scheduling meetings, calls and testing prototype sessions- ask your app development company in Chicago for time frames.

6. Will You Submit My App To The Marketplace/App Stores?

According to Business of Apps, it can be a long and tortuous path to successfully get your finished app to appear in an app store.

Of course, that’s what the main objective is because no one will know of your app unless it’s been accepted or, better yet actually get featured in an app marketplace. The best app development companies in Chicago should guide you through the submission process; after all, you expect them to have done this numerous times before for other clients, but it also goes beyond just the submission process.

Look for app development companies in Chicago that have a well-defined policy of how they handle client’s app releases. After successful submission to a marketplace, your agency should also constantly monitor your app’s performance.

7. Will You Maintain My App Post-Launch?

After the app is launched and in the app marketplace, the job isn’t yet completely done. From time to time, you’ll have to do things like: updates/fix bugs/add new features and functionalities.

In other words, your app is a living product that needs constant maintenance. With that being said, your Chicago app development agency should work with you to come up with an app support and maintenance program. Whether that’s an hourly rate for one-off updates or a monthly fee for a continuous support system.

Choosing app development companies in Chicago has many benefits, such as being more local to you, giving you the opportunity for face-to-face meetings regularly, with your app developer. Not only it is a convenience, but a plus factor within gaining trust and confidence. It’s also a chance to have your app developed by some of the leading developers in the world, thanks to the technological surge in demand within Chicago.

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